The Salvation Army and United Way Partner in Hope Links

Another link in the chain of community support Is available through The Salvation Army in Listowel, Ontario, with funding from United Way Perth-Huron.

HOPE Links North Perth offers individuals who are at risk of homelessness,  underemployed, living in or at risk of poverty, or facing mental health challenges, a place to take a hot shower, launder clothing, receive a meal, and gather in a safe and accepting environment.

Housed in the basement of a former church, the warm and inviting space has been fully renovated and upgraded with new lighting, washrooms, shower facilities, a laundry room, and tables and chairs, accessed through a widened staircase. The basement can also be reached by elevator and one of the shower rooms is fully accessible.

The United Way Perth-Huron are service partners with The Salvation Army in HOPE Links to address homelessness in the community. Gwyneth Woods, Community and Family Services Manager with The Salvation Army in Listowel, says anyone at risk of poverty, homelessness, or living with mental health challenges are welcome to drop in to use the centre.

“We want to be an ally by encouraging and empowering guests and to connect them to the local community through programs and agencies that can help people work toward self-determined goals,” Gwyneth says.

HOPE Links North Perth is open Monday from 10-2, Wednesday from 5-8 and Thursday from 10-2, in the old church at the intersection of Livingstone Avenue and Main Street.

Operating in conjunction with HOPE Links is HOPE Eats, a program that, once up and running, will provide a warm meal every Wednesday at The Salvation Army Listowel Citadel on Main Street.

“We will likely see individuals who are provisionally housed, so they are living on someone’s couch, in a backyard or basement, but do not have a proper lease. We also see people through the food bank who might be sheltered but do not have running water or hydro,” Gwyneth explains.

The Salvation Army in Listowel has developed partnerships and collaborations with community support agencies to assist individuals with any personal challenges and issues they may be facing.

“We want to maintain a feeling of dignity for people, so they are able to meet their basic needs and feel better about themselves,” Gwyneth says.

More volunteers are needed for both HOPE Links and HOPE Eats to support the program, and training is available by emailing Community Outreach Coordinator Stephanie Siertsema at stephanie.siertsema@salvationarmy.ca.